Title: Confounded!

Harry Potter and Hermione Granger watched as Severus Snape raged in the Infirmary that they had something to do with Sirius Black escaping.

"But you saw that they were locked in!" Cornelius Fudge said. "Get a hold of yourself, man!"

Snape gave one more withering look at the two teens and stomped out.

Albus gave a twinkling smile and led the Minister for Magic away from the infirmary. Harry waited until they had left and then quickly padded over to the door. After ensuring that it was unlocked, Harry turned to Hermione.

"Hermione?"

She sighed, "Yes, Harry?"

"Have you ever gone back twice using the Time Turner?" Hermione was worried about that gleam in her friend's eyes.

"Well … once … it just made for a longer day, though." She replied. Suspiciously she asked, "Why do you ask?"

Harry then gave her a smile too reminiscent of the man they had just sent off on a hippogriff for her own peace of mind. "You can't change anything that you know has happened, right?"

"Yes …."

"How about if we …"

Hermione, after hearing Harry's proposal, closed her eyes tightly and said, "Oh my God! I can't believe I'm even considering this." She opened her eyes and looked at her grinning best friend. She huffed, "Fine! Go get your damn broom."

Soon, the two, once again, were linked together by Hermione's necklace and the two were going back in time.

After (or before – depending on how one looked at it) two Hogwarts third years were speeding over the forest entirely covered by Harry's invisibility cloak. They took care to avoid the Dementors. Knowing that the Dementors hadn't seen anything before, the two knew it was safe to act as they were. Once they saw Snape sneaking in to the shack, covering himself as he went, the two dropped down next to the exit to wait for a particular occurrence.

Peter Pettigrew was extremely happy that there had been enough of a distraction for him to make his escape. Peter Pettigrew was not going to be sacrificed for anyone's benefit if he had anything to say about it! As he rushed through the foliage and was crossing one particular clear area, he was completely unprepared for the stunning spell that came from above.

Finally, realizing he couldn't convince Remus Lupin that he should stay and having accepted the Marauder's Map back from him, Harry looked around to ensure they were alone and said, "Well, if you're dead set on leaving, I was wondering if you could do me a favor."

Remus, curious, asked, "Oh?"

Harry then smiled in a way that reminded Remus far too much of his old friend Prongs. "I was wondering if you would be willing to deliver something to London."

"What do you need delivered?" he asked.

Grin fully present, Harry pulled out an unbreakable jar with a very particular occupant. Remus' eyes went wide. "Is that …"

"Yes. I present to you a common rat with one finger missing."

"You caught Peter! How did you do it?" Remus asked incredulously.

Harry raised his finger. "Ah! Ah! Nooooo. Peter Pettigrew is dead – Sirius Black killed him. The Minister himself will confirm that anyone who says otherwise is obviously confounded."

Remus was confused. "So you don't want me to deliver him to the DMLE?"

Harry shook his head and pulled a parchment out and handed it over.

Remus quickly took the letter and read through it. His eyes went wider and wider as he did so. When he was done, he looked back at Harry and said, "I, Remus Lupin, Moony of the Marauders, hereby declare that Harry James Potter, Son of Prongs, is now the reigning Leader of the Marauders as demonstrated by his unparalleled pranking prowess. So Mote It Be!"

Harry gave a little bow. "Thank you, Thank you. This is for all the little people to enjoy!" Harry said grandly to an invisible audience.

Remus could barely contain his grin as he put away the jar and letter.

Two days later, Dirk Cresswell was admitted into the office of Cornelius Fudge. "Yes?" the Minister asked.

"Er. Minister? I have a letter from Gringotts which I need you to look at."

Fudge accepted the letter.

It has come to our attention, through a report from a customer, that there is a question as to the status of the Pettigrew and Black accounts at Gringotts.

According to our source, there is a chance that Mr. Peter Pettigrew is alive and that Mr. Sirius Black, incarcerated in 1981, was not actually convicted by trial.

To ensure accurate records, Gringotts needs to verify the status of these two wizards to ensure correct management of the accounts.

In Business,

Nachek

Ministry Liaison Gringotts Bank

Fudge was almost seeing red as he snatched a parchment and wrote a reply.

Gringotts

As Minister for Magic I can state without reservation that any report that Peter Pettigrew is alive and that Sirius Black is anything other than a convicted murderer is in error.

I, too, received this report and it was determined beyond a shadow of a doubt that the person making that claim was confounded!

You can ignore any statement from anyone that such is not the case.

Cornelius Fudge

Minister for Magic United Kingdom

After signing the letter and handing it to Cresswell Fudge said with a savage grin, "That should take care of that!"

Once Cresswell was gone, Fudge sent off a letter to his friend Lucius that the matter was brought up but taken care of – he knew that the man's son Draco was set to inherit once Black was confirmed dead.

It was three days later and Cornelius Fudge was having tea in his office after having completed much of the paperwork. With a satisfying sigh, he enjoyed the blend.

Suddenly the door to his office swung open and his Senior Undersecetary came in. "Cornelius! You have got to do something!"

Noting how alarmed Dolores looked, Fudge asked, "What is the problem?"

"Those animals at Gringotts have a wizard in a cage in their lobby! Convene the Wizengamot! They go too far!" She was almost foaming in her rage.

"Have you contacted the DMLE?"

"They say they can't do anything!"

Cornelius Fudge stood up with purpose, jamming his hat upon his head. "Let's see about that!"

Very soon, the Minister for Magic descended upon Gringotts with a phalanx of his bodyguards. When he came to the door, he stopped in front of the guard and said, "As Minister for Magic, I demand to see the goblin that permitted a wizard to be put in a cage in your front lobby!"

One of the several guards on post looked at him and said, "Wait here." The guard then entered Gringotts.

One of the other guards said, "Move aside. You are interrupting the flow of customers, violating the treaty of 1728. We insist you move out of the path." Knowing that the guards could enforce that with their spears, Fudge did as requested. He watched as several witches and wizards entered with curious looks upon their faces – apparently they had heard.

Soon, a more professionally dressed goblin appeared with the guard that had gone inside. "What?" the creature asked.

Puffing himself up, Fudge said, "I have received reports that you have a wizard in a cage in your lobby! I demand his release!"

The Goblin looked at him and said, "I assure you that any report that we have a wizard in a cage is in error. We have a peculiar rat – no more."

"I demand to see this display!"

The Goblin sighed. "Very well. But your Guard cannot enter – that would violate the treaties."

"Fine!"

Soon Fudge was following this creature inside.

Off to one side of the lobby, there was a crowd gathered. Pushing through, Cornelius saw a large cage with guards around it. There was a sign that said "THE AMAZING TRANSMORGIFYING RAT!" And, from what Cornelius could see, the cage did only contain a rat at the bottom. There were also two kneazles in connecting boxes, but there were doors holding them back. The rat seemed very nervous with the two creatures watching it carefully.

He turned to Dolores. "I don't see a wizard."

She pointed to another sign. "For 1 Galleon! Release the Kneazles and Watch the Show!"

Pulling a Galleon he handed it over to one guard. The guard nodded an pointed to a button. Reaching out, Cornelius started pushing the button. It was apparent that this was causing the doors for the kneazles to open. Fudge glanced down at the rat.

As soon as the kneazled dropped to the ground, the rat suddenly changed into a man! And, having just dealt with this matter, Fudge immediately recognized him.

The man was obviously yelling but no sound could be heard. Now that there was no rat, the kneazles withdrew and watched the man. At that point, Fudge noted the short sleeves on the figure in the cage. And on one arm was a faded Dark mark. "That's Peter Pettigrew!" he said incredulously.

The Goblin who led him inside said, "No! This is obviously just a rat with an uncommon ability to mimic a dead man with a Dark mark. I have a letter signed by yourself just two days ago which indicates that anyone who reports Pettigrew as anything other than dead or Black as anything other than guilty of his murder is to be treated as though confounded. You should go to St. Mungo's after leaving and get the curse removed." The Goblin's smile was quite predatory as he said this.

Fudge and Umbridge both looked at the Goblin in horror. A reporter from the Daily Prophet was nearby, quickly scribbling notes.

"It's obvious that's a wizard! Let him go!"

The Goblin shrugged. "Well, you'd have to try questioning it with truth serum to prove otherwise. Of course, only Aurors can question with Truth Serum and only with permission. Without that proof, I must accept your written word that such is impossible and therefore, this must be just a rat with some unusual abilities. You may leave now. Come back when you have a written authority to test this creature with truth serum."

Fudge walked out of Gringotts in a daze.